Clifton Street graveyard can justifiably be described as the Jewel in the Crown of Belfast graveyards. In its sacred ground you will find a cross section of Belfast's 18th and 19th century population. Ranging from paupers to millionaires, including United Irishmen, the medical fraternity, the military and suicide victims. Included in approximately 7,000 souls, buried in a mass grave, are many victims of the 1845/50 famine.

The upper part of Clifton Street graveyard was opened in 1796/7 because there was a need for more burial space and because the Belfast Charitable Society, the body who had provided an early form of National Health Service to the poor and needy of Belfast, needed funds.

The society was also responsible for setting up the first cotton production in belfast in the late 18th century. This was carried on in the basement of the Poor House (nowadays Clifton House).

In the Poor House they also opened up a day dispensary were the sick would be attended to by the many doctors who were members of the society. These doctors gave there services free and in 1794 they opened the first Fever Hospital in present day Berry St (then known as Factory Row). This was the forerunner of the present day Royal Victoria Hospital.

At number 25 Donegall Street, in 1797, the Ladies of the society opened up a "Lying In" hospital (maternity hospital). This was the forerunner of the present day Royal Maternity Hospital. The building still exists today and just above the main door to commemorate this famous event I have put up some brief information hopefully to be read by the public as they pass by this famous building.

Back to the Clifton Street graveyard and time to highlight some of the people buried there :-

The saddest part of the upper portion of the graveyard is the area called "Strangers Ground". There are approximately 7000 souls buried here and as the memorial points out :"THEY ALL HAD NAMES". Here are buried victims of the many outbreaks of disease that occurred in 19th century Belfast.

Directly opposite this mass burial ground you will find the graves of what would have been 19th century millionaires : -

Heron, the founder of the ULster Bank.

Ritchie, who along with his two brothers developed Belfast's shipping industry (note this was on the Co. Antrim side of the lough. Shipbuilding did not start on the Co.Down side of the lough untill the mid 19th century.

Dunville, the famous whiskey distiller (at its height Belfast was producing 3,000,000 gallons of whiskey per year)

Political Dr. Wm Steele Dickson, radical Presbyterian and commander of the United Irishmen in Co Down.

Dr. Wm. Drennan son of the minister of the first Presbyterian Church in Rosemary St. and the man who thought up the idea of uniting Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter in the organisation that Wolfe Tone called The Society of United Irishmen. Dr. Drennan is also credited with introducing the expression "The Emerald Isle " into the language.

Henry Joy McCracken and his equally famous sister are to be found at the top wall of the graveyard. Mary Ann McCracken was one of the few women who was a member of the United Irish organisation and she was also deeply involved in social reform as an active member of the Belfast Charitable Society.

Henry Joy McCracken, the charismatic leader of the United Irish attack on Antrim in June of 1798 was captured, tried in the Assembly Rooms in Waring St, and hanged at 5 pm on the 17th July 1798, at the Market House, Cornmarket.

He was originally buried in the old Corporation Church Graveyard, present day St.Georges. Francis Joseph Biggar removed what were believed to be his remains to his sister's graveyard in the early 1900s.

There are many tours of this famous graveyard on offer : - The Glenravel History Project, Belfast City Council and as part of the History Tour of Olde Belfast, offered through the Queens University Life Long Learning department.

Your Responses:

David Hatrick - July '08
I am looking for James Hatrick buried in Belfast died in 1915 do you now were he is buried

Thanks

Dave